NEW YORK, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ --
Siemens Enterprise Communications Group (SEN Group), a premier provider of business communications solutions, today announced it has partnered with
UTC Associates (UTC), a leading, New York-based systems and network integrator in communications technologies, to deliver unified communications (UC) solutions to customers in the financial services, media, healthcare, insurance, real estate, education and government sectors. As part of the sales and service partnership agreement with the SEN Group, UTC will have full access to the
Go Forward partner program, as well as the award-winning
OpenScape product and solution portfolio.

Both companies share a commitment to understanding the unique needs of enterprises to deliver cost-effective, customized solutions designed to grow with a customer's business, as well as delivering the lowest TCO and highest ROI possible. Like the SEN Group, UTC has technology expertise in Voice over IP (VoIP), video, network infrastructure, security, disaster recovery and business continuity. The SEN Group and UTC will work together to supply customers with UC solutions that can offer significant green benefits by helping to reduce power usage and the need for travel and energy consumption.

"In today's tough economic environment, being able to provide our customers with an open, standards-based UC platform that secures their existing communications investment, while positioning them to take advantage of future capabilities, is a real asset."said Aziz Ahmad, President and CEO of UTC Associates. "Not only does the SEN Group's platform offer lower TCO thanks to easier administration through its data-center approach, but its openness enables us to customize the solution and better address the needs of our customers. In addition, the SEN Group's commitment to providing socially responsible green communications solutions matches UTC's own commitment to protect the environment. "

Inherent to its
Open Communications strategy is the SEN Group's pledge to provide its partners and customers with standards- and software-based business communications. In addition, the SEN Group's
OpenPath migration approach makes it possible for customers to migrate to UC at their own pace and within virtually any existing communications environment.

"We are committed to supporting our channel and are proud to embrace leading, minority-run companies such as UTC, who share our commitment to delivering world-class customer service," said Michael Garland, SVP of North American Channels for SEN Group . "UTC's proven methodology, vertical expertise and knowledge of IP technology, combined with our award-winning family of products, will provide customers with the products, skill sets and tools needed to meet their business objectives."

About UTC Associates

UTC Associates, Inc., headquartered on Wall Street in New York City, is a solutions-based leading systems & network integration company focusing on all key aspects of complex network planning, design, testing, implementation and support. UTC has practices in Telecommunications, Information Technology and Network Management. UTC's team of professionals consists of individuals at the top of their respective fields. Each engineer has the educational background, industry certifications and communication skills required to produce the highest levels of customer satisfaction. The company provides services to both large and small customers including Fortune 1000 firms across many different industry sectors. To learn more, visit
www.utcassociates.com.

About Siemens Enterprise Communications Group (SEN Group)

The SEN Group is a premier provider of end-to-end enterprise communications, including voice, network infrastructure and security solutions that use open, standards-based architectures to unify communications and business applications for a seamless collaboration experience. This award-winning "Open Communications" approach enables organizations to improve productivity and reduce costs through easy-to-deploy solutions that work within existing IT environments, delivering operational efficiencies. It is the foundation for the company's OpenPath(R) commitment that enables customers to mitigate risk and cost-effectively adopt unified communications. Jointly owned by The Gores Group and Siemens AG, SEN Group companies include Siemens Enterprise Communications, Cycos, and Enterasys Networks.

Note: Siemens Enterprise Communications & Co K.G. is a trademark licensee of Siemens AG. HiPath, OpenOffice, OpenScape and OpenStage, are registered trademarks of Siemens Enterprise Communications & Co K.G. or its affiliates. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens' management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.